There is a very interesting event recorded in the 16th chapter of Acts; Paul & company are ministering in the city of Philippi and they attract the attention of a young girl. Now, the Bible tells us that this girl is actually possessed of a demon, and because of that, she has unusual powers- much like some of those who would be called a "psychic" today. Also, it is stated that she brought her masters "much gain" through the marketing of this demonic ability.
As she follows the messengers of Christ around, she begins to proclaim: "These men are servants of the most high God, who show unto us the way of salvation." What is this? the devil preaching the Gospel?
This is a passage that I think of whenever I hear of of the celebrities of this world giving their "testimony" of how they have found the Lord. One young singer was recently reported to have attended a large conference at an Australian mega-church. He was, according to reports, afforded "celebrity status" by the church. (I do wonder what the Apostle James might have said about that. See James 2). This young man has spoken of his relationship with Jesus, been written up in Christian magazines, etc.; all because of his "testimony!
During the same time, he makes headlines for outrageous behavior, posts naked pictures of himself, is recorded behaving in ways that are decidedly contrary to Bible teaching- but he, as well as many other in the entertainment world, are held forth as "Christian" because they "say so"!
Notice i this Acts 16 passage, that this demoniac girl's words, or lyrics, are factually true. Paul and his companions were God's servants, come to tel the way of salvation!
However, "the messenger can taint the message!" God does not desire certain kinds of advertisement! Isaiah 52:11 holds forth a command to those who will carry the things of the Lord- the message is to be holy! It is deadly self-deception to believe that we can be a saved worldling!
Regardless of when Jesus return, our days on earth are short! We need to be serious about our pursuit of holiness and guard against the enticements of the world which would cause us to compromise Biblical standards and to expand the way which Jesus proclaimed to be strait and narrow!
It takes more than the right word to make one right! It requires right living, which we can do through Christ!
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Sunday, September 20, 2015
Entertainment Has Paralyzed The American Church
It seems all but impossible to get professed Christians to even be faithful to their church's services today; let alone extending themselves to actively engage this rapidly decaying society!
Looking at social media, I see church leaders ditching services to attend secular sporting or entertainment events- they are even so out of touch with spiritual things as to be posting "selfies" and writing about the good time that they are having. They seem to be clueless to the fact that they have openly defied the Lord's mandate about faithfulness to the times of assembly, and have opted. rather, to be conformed to the world around us!
Am I saying that such events are sinful? Well, many are! They are so filled with drunkenness and profanity that the atmosphere is anything but wholesome. Some will object that we have to "mingle" with the world in order to reach them; and that is true! But, the plain truth is that "evangelism" is rarely the purpose for such activities! There is simply a desire for the things of this world more than for the things of God!
Indeed, the god of this world has blinded the eyes of many today! The prevailing sentiment is that "we are rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing." But the Lord sees things for what they really are! (Revelation 2 and 3).
If the existing American churches are ever going to realize a spiritual awakening, then it is time to lay aside weights and sins and seek the Lord for His touch!
If they refuse, then the Lord will likely raise up others who will take up the banner of Christ and serve Him in spirit and in truth! The call is consistent in old & New Testament: Come out, be separate, put away sin, embrace righteousness and walk in the pathway of obedience to the Lord!
Looking at social media, I see church leaders ditching services to attend secular sporting or entertainment events- they are even so out of touch with spiritual things as to be posting "selfies" and writing about the good time that they are having. They seem to be clueless to the fact that they have openly defied the Lord's mandate about faithfulness to the times of assembly, and have opted. rather, to be conformed to the world around us!
Am I saying that such events are sinful? Well, many are! They are so filled with drunkenness and profanity that the atmosphere is anything but wholesome. Some will object that we have to "mingle" with the world in order to reach them; and that is true! But, the plain truth is that "evangelism" is rarely the purpose for such activities! There is simply a desire for the things of this world more than for the things of God!
Indeed, the god of this world has blinded the eyes of many today! The prevailing sentiment is that "we are rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing." But the Lord sees things for what they really are! (Revelation 2 and 3).
If the existing American churches are ever going to realize a spiritual awakening, then it is time to lay aside weights and sins and seek the Lord for His touch!
If they refuse, then the Lord will likely raise up others who will take up the banner of Christ and serve Him in spirit and in truth! The call is consistent in old & New Testament: Come out, be separate, put away sin, embrace righteousness and walk in the pathway of obedience to the Lord!
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
The Necessity For Revival!
I want to begin with a quote from A W Tozer: But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ. -Philippians 3:7-8
Our most pressing obligation today is to do all in our power to obtain a revival that will result in a reformed, revitalized, purified church. It is of far greater importance that we have better Christians than that we have more of them. Each generation of Christians is the seed of the next, and degenerate seed is sure to produce a degenerate harvest not a little better than but a little worse than the seed from which it sprang. Thus the direction will be down until vigorous, effective means are taken to improve the seed....
To carry on these activities [evangelism, missions] scripturally the church should be walking in fullness of power, separated, purified and ready at any moment to give up everything, even life itself, for the greater glory of Christ. For a worldly, weak, decadent church to make converts is but to bring forth after her own kind and extend her weakness and decadence a bit further out....
So vitally important is spiritual quality that it is hardly too much to suggest that attempts to grow larger might well be suspended until we have become better.
Just recently, I saw a picture that someone had posted on social media; it showed a place where a fresh water source was merging with ocean water. The thing that impressed me was that there was a distinct line of separation between the fresh water and the salt water. At the initial point of meeting, there was a difference that was so obvious, but just a little ways out into the ocean, the "mixture" was such that the difference was no longer discernible!
How like the Church of Jesus Christ this picture is! The first century church was so radically different from surrounding culture that they stood out as a distinct people! Their lifestyles, habits, honesty, purity- their devotion to Christ and to His cause "marked" them as a people who had committed themselves to be disciples, followers of Jesus Christ!
Sadly, history records that this God-ordained separation began to wain. A little ways into the "ocean" of the world, and the difference became obscured! It seemed that cultured had so absorbed, diluted, compromised the convictions of the professed church, that you could not tell where one ended and the other began!
But God is faithful, and Christ will build His church!
There have been seasons of revival, wherein the distinctiveness of holiness has been restored to those who desire a close walk with the Lord. At times, these revivals have shaken, awakened and changed entire communities- even entire nations have been impacted as the Lord has graciously poured out of His Spirit!
We, today, stand in desperate need of such a visitation! The church and the world seem to be one and the same! Professed Christians have, by-and-large, been absorbed into surrounding culture and no discernible difference can be seen! There is no Spiritual power to save, deliver and change lives! And, sadly, there is little concern over the sorry condition of the church today!
But if those who grieve over the sinful state of our nation will give themselves to prayer, intercession and standing against the powers of darkness that hold sway over the masses today, we have every right to believe that God will hear our prayers, and that He will penetrate the darkness and shine His light of revival upon His church once again!
Spiritually, the hour is dark- but God is not limited! He is looking for a people who will work, pray, and believe Him to honor His word!
Our most pressing obligation today is to do all in our power to obtain a revival that will result in a reformed, revitalized, purified church. It is of far greater importance that we have better Christians than that we have more of them. Each generation of Christians is the seed of the next, and degenerate seed is sure to produce a degenerate harvest not a little better than but a little worse than the seed from which it sprang. Thus the direction will be down until vigorous, effective means are taken to improve the seed....
To carry on these activities [evangelism, missions] scripturally the church should be walking in fullness of power, separated, purified and ready at any moment to give up everything, even life itself, for the greater glory of Christ. For a worldly, weak, decadent church to make converts is but to bring forth after her own kind and extend her weakness and decadence a bit further out....
So vitally important is spiritual quality that it is hardly too much to suggest that attempts to grow larger might well be suspended until we have become better.
Just recently, I saw a picture that someone had posted on social media; it showed a place where a fresh water source was merging with ocean water. The thing that impressed me was that there was a distinct line of separation between the fresh water and the salt water. At the initial point of meeting, there was a difference that was so obvious, but just a little ways out into the ocean, the "mixture" was such that the difference was no longer discernible!
How like the Church of Jesus Christ this picture is! The first century church was so radically different from surrounding culture that they stood out as a distinct people! Their lifestyles, habits, honesty, purity- their devotion to Christ and to His cause "marked" them as a people who had committed themselves to be disciples, followers of Jesus Christ!
Sadly, history records that this God-ordained separation began to wain. A little ways into the "ocean" of the world, and the difference became obscured! It seemed that cultured had so absorbed, diluted, compromised the convictions of the professed church, that you could not tell where one ended and the other began!
But God is faithful, and Christ will build His church!
There have been seasons of revival, wherein the distinctiveness of holiness has been restored to those who desire a close walk with the Lord. At times, these revivals have shaken, awakened and changed entire communities- even entire nations have been impacted as the Lord has graciously poured out of His Spirit!
We, today, stand in desperate need of such a visitation! The church and the world seem to be one and the same! Professed Christians have, by-and-large, been absorbed into surrounding culture and no discernible difference can be seen! There is no Spiritual power to save, deliver and change lives! And, sadly, there is little concern over the sorry condition of the church today!
But if those who grieve over the sinful state of our nation will give themselves to prayer, intercession and standing against the powers of darkness that hold sway over the masses today, we have every right to believe that God will hear our prayers, and that He will penetrate the darkness and shine His light of revival upon His church once again!
Spiritually, the hour is dark- but God is not limited! He is looking for a people who will work, pray, and believe Him to honor His word!
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